30 day beauty challenge: day 24

Well, it is New Years Eve! I hope you all have exciting things planned for tonight. As for me? I will be having a quiet night in, watching Ryan Seacrest on my TV. As much as I love this tradition, there is part of me that would really love to go out and party with the rest of the world. Whether you are going out or staying in, be safe and have fun!

30 day beauty challenge: day 23

The New Year is quickly approaching. Have you started working on your resolutions yet? I have been giving mine a great deal of thought this year. It is always nice to have goals to work towards. I haven't written out all of my resolutions yet, but I aim to do so tonight or tomorrow. After all, I always liked the idea of a fresh start.

30 day beauty challenge: day 22

Already I am on day 22 of the 30 day beauty challenge. Nearly there! Today's challenge is: Beauty Tips For a Big Night Out. Personally, I always love getting ready for a night out. There is something thrilling about taking extra time and care with your hair and makeup, and getting yourself in the right frame of mind for whatever the evening may hold.

30 day beauty challenge: day 21

Slowly but surely, I am beginning to get back to my regular routine. Today is unfortunately the last day of my mini-vacation. Back to work tomorrow....sigh! I am still trying to cling to the holidays as much as possible, though. On that note, here are some of my favourite holiday photos and a couple of the Christmas gifts I was given.

30 day beauty challenge: day 20

Editing Note: Since Dior continues to support a court-certified wife beater, I no longer support the brand. Believe survivors. 

Happy holidays! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I look forward to reading all about them. My Christmas was wonderful. To summarize it: I ate far too much, was given more than I could ever deserve, and spent the day with my amazing family.

30 day beauty challenge: day 19

Finally, it is Christmas Eve! I am so excited! Today, I will be baking with my mom, getting the last minute things finished and watching Christmas movies. It is very exciting. I am going to take a mini break from the 30 day beauty challenge and will resume as scheduled on the 27th.

30 day beauty challenge: day 18

There is a special kind of energy when you get together with your friends you haven't seen in a while. We all met up to get our picture taken with Santa, go to dinner, and hang out. It was a really fun day! We also decided it would be fun to get dressed up for the occasion. So, I wanted to share the picture that we got along with the makeup look I created for the occasion. It was all about simple glam.

30 day beauty challenge: day 17

Only three days until Christmas! It is such an exciting time of year. Now for day 17 of the 30 day beauty challenge: Fashion Pieces on Your To-Buy List. Ready to take a peek at the items I've been lusting after? Here goes....

30 day beauty challenge: day 16

Well, finally got word on my computer. The new screen came in, but now my laptop won't boot up at all. Which means, I have to take it in somewhere and pay money I don't have to try and get it fixed. Sigh. So much for my Christmas miracle. In happier news, today I am meeting up with a group of my friends to catch up before the holidays. We are going to get our picture taken with Santa and go to dinner. Very exciting. Also exciting? The fact that my friend and I recently hosted a dinner party. I wanted to share a few pictures from the evening. So keep reading to check them out.

30 day beauty challenge: day 15

Last night was the dinner party my friend and I hosted at my house. It was definitely an experience. I may not be the best hostess, but ultimately, I had a good night. And now onto today's beauty challenge: Your Favourite Piece of Jewellery. Now, I don't know if this is my favourite piece of jewellery, or just my favourite piece at the moment. All I know is that I am loving it! I picked this ring up at Forever 21 not long ago, and keep looking for excuses to wear it! Here it is pictured with my new glittery gold Material Girls purse.

30 day beauty challenge: day 14

Today is the Christmas dinner my friend and I are hosting. I am feeling kind of anxious about it. I have never been good at hosting things - I always feel so much pressure for things to go well. I will be sure to let you all know how things turn out though. Almost halfway there....today's beauty challenge is: Photo of a Hairstyle/Haircut You'd Like to Have.

30 day beauty challenge: day 13

I hope your weekend is going well. I am still crazy busy, but I keep trying to get everything done. While I try to do that...here is today's beauty challenge: Photo of Your Fashion/Style Icon. To me, Audrey Hepburn is perfection. She embodies everything I strive to be, and so many qualities I admire. Not only was she jaw-droppingly beautiful, she possessed so much class, grace, and elegance.  There are so many reasons why Audrey has left a lasting impression: her style was classic and chic; her films were dynamic; she had a kind and giving heart.

30 day beauty challenge: day 12

This weekend is going to be a very busy one for me. My friend and I are hosting a Christmas party on Monday night, so we will be busy planning, cooking, and getting everything ready. Phew! Here is today's beauty challenge: Favourite Colour of Clothing.

30 day beauty challenge: day 11

Happy Friday, everyone! It's hard to believe how quickly this week has gone by. I feel like there is so much to do still. Working, decorating the house, and planning a Christmas party....what a busy season. Today's beauty challenge is: Bag You Want to Have. 

30 day beauty challenge: day 10

It is day 10 of the 30 day beauty challenge, and today's challenge is: Current Fashion/Style You Like. This was a tough one because there are so many styles that I have been loving lately.

30 day beauty challenge: day 9

As promised, here is a picture from my work Christmas party, with my friend. I chose a casual but pretty tank/lace dress from my wardrobe, paired with glittery black kitten heels. For makeup, I went with a wintery look that was made up of frosty whites and shimmery blues with a deep red lip. Now onto today's beauty challenge: Your Favourite Pair of Shoes.

30 day beauty challenge: day 8

As I mentioned in my last post, my work Christmas party was last night. The party itself had it's moments, but it went on way too long. My friend and I made it fun though. Overall, it was a good day. I will do my best to post some pictures soon. Today is day 8 of the 30 day beauty challenge, and today's challenge is: A Photo of You Getting Fashion Wrong.....a very easy challenge for me.

30 day beauty challenge: day 7

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was pretty busy, but mostly good. Tonight is the Christmas party for my work, which hopefully will be a good time! An interesting way to spend a Monday night, at any rate. Today marks the 7th day of the 30 day beauty challenge. A week already. Today's challenge is: Favourite Item of Clothing. For this challenge, I am going to cheat a little bit and pick two things. The first is my favourite item of clothing in general, and the other is the item of clothing that means the most to me.

30 day beauty challenge: day 6

It amazes me how quickly the holidays are approaching. It feels like there is so much to get done, and not nearly enough time to do it in! Today, my mom and I are starting in on decorating the house. Christmas is a big deal in my family, so this is quite the task. And now, for today's beauty challenge, the question is: Your Favourite Makeup Brand.

30 day beauty challenge: day 5

Today's challenge in the 30 day beauty challenge is: An Outfit That is Totally You. I had to really think about this one. I don't know quite how to describe my style....part English rose, old-school glam, and maybe some 80s chic every once and a while. It changes so much depending on my mood. However, for this challenge, I decided to showcase the kind of outfit I've been wearing a lot lately.

30 day beauty challenge: day 4

Day four already! This challenge has really been keeping me posting, that is for sure. Despite the hectic holiday season, I've actually had more time to blog lately. Since my internship is over, I've given myself December to catch up on all of the things I hadn't had time for. Like reading books, organizing my room, and catching up on some TV shows. Onto today's challenge: My Favourite Foundation.

30 day beauty challenge: day 3

It is day three of the 30 day beauty challenge! Today's challenge is: Your Hairstyle. On it's own, my hair is pretty wavy and generally a mess. I tend to straighten it as much as possible. I am not all that great with hair, but my favourite hairstyle to do is a half up, half down style. Basically, I tease the top of my hair, pin it back, and then curl the rest. Pretty simple, but it looks nice, I think.

30 day beauty challenge: day 2

Day 2 of the 30 day beauty challenge is to post a Picture of Your Favourite Bag. This one is an easy one for me. There is one purse that I reach for time and time again. I love the bold details and the large size. It fits everything I need it to.

30 day beauty challenge & makeup look of the day.

Ready for something exciting? I came across this really fun 30 day beauty challenge that I have decided to try. So, for the next little while, I will be posting about the following topics....

simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Nothing is more elegant than a pair of white gloves. Chic, simple, and glamorous, they are a lasting fashion staple. Lately, I have become more enamored than usual by white gloves. They convey such elegance and sophistication. I don't own any yet, but am constantly on the hunt for just the right pair.

snow had fallen, snow on snow, in the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

First off, I would like to thank everyone for your kind words in regards to my last post. At the moment, I am using my messed up, broken computer, until I am able to find some sort of solution. November hasn't been the greatest month for me - which is why I am so optimistic about December. Family, friends, and the many wonderful times the holidays bring. Here are a few of the images inspiring me right now.

when bad days get worse.

Today has been an awful day. To start with, I've been quite ill. All I've done is drink water, watch TV, and try not to move. I eventually decided I would try and catch up on some blog stuff. I opened up my laptop - which was sitting exactly where I had left it the previous day - and there was a series of giant cracks on the left side. And better yet, nothing will show up on my computer screen around the cracks.

champagne or high heels. one must be prepared to suffer for it.

Shoes are my weakness. I have an addiction to high heels, despite the fact that I don't have nearly enough occasions to wear them. However, I am good at ignoring this fact! I recently bought a gorgeous pair of Paris Hilton heels. They are a pretty purple, with a cute bow at the front. Fun but simple. I am already thinking of outfits to wear them with, which is clearly a sign of love.

the only source of knowledge is experience.

It amazes me how much an experience can change you. For the last three months, I have been interning with Young Hollywood. The website focuses on celebrities and entertainment news. (The last article I wrote for them was on Natalie Wood, which you can read here.) In my time with Young Hollywood, forty-five of my articles have been published on the site.

sugar, sugar.

In the midst of my busy, stressed out life, I made time for one important day. On Monday, I went to a book signing by Buddy Valastro (The Cake Boss!) and also took in his show that same evening. My mom had bought the tickets for the show months ago, so it was exciting for the day to finally arrive.

i know God will not give me anything i can't handle. i just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

My life has been pretty full in the last several months. I have been working at my job, doing an internship, blogging and occasionally attempting to have a social life. I was handling it all pretty well, despite never having free time. Until tonight, that is. With one week left of my internship - which I have genuinely loved doing, even if it meant giving up my free time- I broke down. I could feel it coming on all day at work - I was in a foul mood for no reason at all. Everything got to me. It all felt like too much.

love it or leave it?

Gossip Girl is all about the fashion. It sports designer gowns and trend-setting looks. Which is why Blake Lively stood out at Gossip Girl's 100th Episode Party in New York City....but maybe not for the reason she should have.

makeup tutorial: classic kristen stewart purple and black smokey eye

People either love or hate Twilight. Personally, I love it. I love how dramatic and over the top everything is. I love being on Team Jacob. Yet, I love the idea of a love so intense between Bella and Edward. Basically, the only thing I care about at the moment, is Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1.

In a few hours, I will be seeing the movie! To ease my anxious excitement, I have decided to do a Kristen Stewart makeup tutorial. The look I am recreating, is from the premiere of Eclipse. This is actually my favourite makeup look from Kristen! I love the combination of that vibrant purple and black. The look is smokey, sexy, and beautiful.

desire of having is the sin of covetousness.

Inspiration struck tonight. Despite all of the work I need to get done, and the fact that I have to be up early tomorrow, I found myself on the hunt for photos that captured this inspiration. Here are some of my favourites:

scent of the moment.

I love perfume. The right scent can completely pull together a look, making it more than an outfit, but a frame of mind. Every morning when I go through my (rather large) perfume collection, I really think about what my perfume is going to say.

i just shop for shopping's sake.

Yesterday, I did a bit more Christmas shopping. I am really trying to get things done whenever I have free time, because I seem to have so little of it lately. My mom and I went shopping at this massive mall - it took us like six hours to get through it all! It was a long, but good day. I only have a few more gifts to buy people for Christmas. One of the downsides of Christmas shopping, is that I tend to pick up things for myself as well. It's terrible! Here is what I ended up buying.....

easy, breezy, beautiful.

Jessica Stam is bringing her striking and beautiful high-fashion look to the latest CoverGirl ads! She is the face of makeup artist Pat McGrath's new Lip Perfection Runway Shade line of lipsticks. Jessica is joining a long line of gorgeous Cover Girl models - from Jennifer O'Neill, Cybill Shepherd and Christie Brinkley, to Drew Barrymore, Ellen DeGeneres, and Taylor Swift. Today's post is dedicated to her striking advertisement photos....

random acts of kindness.

Sometimes I am reminded about the goodness that exists in the world; It becomes so easy to get caught up in cynicism. Yesterday, I did a bit of early Christmas shopping with a friend. At some point near the end of the night, my wallet fell out of my bag. I had no idea it happened, even after I returned home. It wasn't until I received a phone call from the wonderful woman who found it, that I even realized.

deceiving others. that is what the world calls a romance.

Lately I have been very inspired by romantic, elegant, and daring images. Life at the moment has been rather busy - it seems I am always working on something, and there is never enough time. So in these busy moments, romantic photographs revive me. Here are some of the photos inspiring me at the moment...

being wild at heart is really who I am.

Sometimes, makeup is like a love affair. You fall madly in love with a product for a while - the two of you are inseparable; You reach out for it without even realizing. Currently, I am having that kind of love affair with the Wet n Wild Color Icon trio, Walking On Eggshells.

every beautiful thought has been already sung.

Selena Gomez is truly becoming a red carpet stunner. She has consistently been one of the best dressed at every event she attends. This years EMA red carpet was no different! Selena looked simply stunning in a short lace gown. She accessorized perfectly with a red clutch, adding that perfect pop of colour! Sophisticated and elegant, this red carpet outfit was another excellent choice from Selena.

makeup look of the day: christina aguilera inspired

Recently, I came across some red carpet photos of Christina Aguilera for The Voice. She looked absolutely beautiful! I love the way she wore her hair, her dramatic eye makeup, baby pink lips and glowy skin. When doing my makeup this morning, I was really inspired by this look. Though I am nowhere near as tanned as Christina, I tried to go for a more bronze, glowy look on the skin. I used a really bright pink blush as well! For the lips, I used my favourite lip gloss, NARS Turkish Delight. And for the eyes, I went dramatic and dark, like Christina, and tried to play up the lashes as much as I could.

i just came to say hello.

There is nothing better than receiving a bag from Sephora! For my birthday a few weeks ago, my sister handed me that signature black bag. Inside, was the Say Hello Palette from the Hello Kitty collection! I was super excited about this, because I love Hello Kitty and had been wanting to try something from the makeup line for a while. I have been trying this out for the last little bit - here are my thoughts on the palette....

she lowered her lashes until they almost cuddled her cheeks.

When it comes to my makeup, I love a bit of drama. Which is why I adore false eyelashes. (I only wish I was better at putting them on!) False eyelashes have been applied since the beginning of the 20th century. They were first used in the 1916 film, "Intolerance." The director wanted actress Seena Owen to have lashes that brushed her cheeks, in order to make her eyes appear bigger. They were originally created by a wig maker, who wove human hair through gauze. This was then gummed to Seena Owen's eyelids.

eat, drink and be scary.

Post trick or treating, my Halloween experiences were never very good. Plans always fell through, and I wound up disappointed and watching Halloween 4 by myself. So this year, I was determined to have a great Halloween. Even though things didn't entirely go as planned, I had a lot of fun! I dressed up as a zombie bride on Saturday, and Hello Kitty on Sunday. I love getting dressed up....I almost wish it could be Halloween more often. Here is a closer look at my Halloween costumes from this year.

and nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow, so don't let go, now we've come this far.

Last night was one of those rare evenings where everything felt right in the world. I headed downtown to see Duran Duran in concert. Alone. When I bought the tickets, no one I knew wanted to go with me. Instead of missing out on seeing them AGAIN, I just went for it and bought a single ticket. Before the show, and after the opening act, I just read a book and waited. It was kind of lovely. And then I saw Duran Duran perform live. After watching the concert DVD endlessly, I finally was seeing Simon Le Bon IN REAL LIFE. It was such a thrilling experience.

love it or leave it?

The always beautiful Emma Roberts wore this last week at an event. I was immediately struck by this outfit. I love the sheer black collar mixed with that gorgeous metallic dress! I think the combination is simply stunning! I only wish there had been a belt to break things up a bit. Her hair and makeup are flawless - simple and elegant, and they really allow the dress to be showcased.

the secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

My apologies that I have been neglecting blog stuff for the last few days - this weekend was my birthday weekend. My birthday was actually yesterday, so I saw my boyfriend Saturday morning, then headed down to Toronto with a couple of my best friends. We got a hotel for the night and went out to a gay bar! It was so much fun. Then on Sunday, we did a family dinner. I am a twin, so we were celebrating two birthdays.

makeup tutorial: cassie blake (the secret circle)

Let me cut to the chase: "The Secret Circle" is awesome.

From the first episode, I have been hooked. It is quickly becoming one of my favourite new shows! Every episode I watch, I am always in love with main character, Cassie's makeup. It is simple, wearable, but so pretty. So, I decided to do a quick tutorial on it! This look is really easy to do, but very pretty.

new makeup post!

Over the last little while, I have been trying not to buy new makeup, except what I actually need....I think that lasted for about three days. The problem is that I love trying out new products. There is something beautiful in trying something out, falling in love, and adding it to your makeup collection. Here are some of the things I've been trying out recently.